FILE -In this Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 file photo, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore talks to the crowd after being sworn into office, at the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building in Montgomery, Ala. Gays and lesbians could get marriage licenses in more than half of Alabama’s counties Friday after a federal judge told a county judge that he must not defy her ruling striking down the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Moore has remained defiant, demanding that the state’s probate judges keep refusing to issue licenses to same-sex couples until the final word from the nation’s highest court. (AP Photo/AL.com, Julie Bennett, File)

Letter-writer Tom Uebbing’s argument against same-sex marriage boils down to the simple fact that same-sex partners cannot procreate. He writes, “Persons of the same sex disqualify themselves to marry because they lack complementary sexual differentiation.”

What this argument fails to recognize is that marriage is usually comprised of elements other than procreation. Marriage in this era is neither defined nor driven by the need to procreate — in the vast majority of cases, it’s actually defined and driven by love. Procreation can happen without marriage (or love) and marriage happens without procreation. Procreation frequently occurs within marriage, yes, but it’s not the basis upon which most marriages are built.

If two people love each other and want to get married, there’s not a single, fact-based reason to prevent them from doing so. Plenty of faith-based reasons exist, of course, but last I checked, the United States wasn’t a theocracy.

James Lewis,Castle Rock

This letter was published in the Feb. 19 edition.

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I was glad to see the article by Robert J. Samuelson concerning the drop in marriage and the effect that has in our society. Reasons for this were mentioned in the article, but there’s more.

When the “me” generation appeared, along with it came selfishness, greed, inability to make a personal commitment and a huge lack of personal and moral responsibility.

I was born and raised by two loving parents. I have so many wonderful memories from them, separately and together as a team. My heart goes out to kids being raised by a single parent who doesn’t believe in marriage. No matter how hard they try, a single parent cannot match a mom and dad. It’s not fair to the kids and it’s one more dark cloud in our society.

Richard G. Wyant, Arvada

This letter was published in the Nov. 2 edition.

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Sorry to burst the pious bubbles that must appear over the heads of letter-writers Peter Berry and Bill Forbes wherever they go, but the Bible explicitly states that other than fornicators and adulterers, anybody can marry anyone. Hebrews 13:4 states: “Marriage is honorable among all.” There are no specific requirements expressed whatsoever that relate to the sex of the participating individuals. Just the word “all.” As far as I know, that word is inclusive and about as clearly concise as one can get.

If you torture the Bible enough, you can get it to say whatever it is you want it to say.

Rev. Kat Holiday, Eaton

This letter was published in the July 26 edition.

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Letter-writer Kari Epstein describes On My Honor, an alternative to Boy Scouts, as “paranoid, “small-minded,” “bigoted” and “judgmental.” Surely, she would never consider her language as judgmental!

She asks where the Christian worldview of “one man, one woman” is in the Bible. See Genesis 2:24, where “a man, leaving his father and mother, is joined to his wife so that the two become one person.” That’s math 101.

Epstein’s example of multiple wives of biblical figures was never God’s intention in marriage.

In the New Testament, Jesus, in Mark 10, reaffirms Genesis. There are no biblical grounds for claiming multiple wives, divorce, or same-sex marriage as God’s intentions for humanity. The prevalence of such relationships, and their frequent failures to sustain, attest to our need for grace, forgiveness, and a new frame of mind and heart which, sadly, God is always more willing to provide than we are to ask.

Bill Forbes, Whitewater

This letter was published in the July 24 edition.

Kari Epstein asks, “Can someone please tell me where [the tenet that marriage is between one man and one woman] is mentioned in the Bible?” It is mentioned in the following scriptures: In the Old Testament: Genesis 2:24. In the New Testament: Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, and Ephesians 5:31. I hope this might bring some relief to Ms. Epstein and her search for the truth.

Peter Berry, Aurora

This letter was published in the July 24 edition.

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When I read about Louisiana justice of the peace Keith Bardwell’s refusal to marry an interracial couple, I was reminded of my painful years of living there. My son’s two best friends are the products of different combinations of interracial marriage. One is a former Marine now studying to be an engineer. The other just spent the summer working in Japan and is now back at Harvard Law School.

Is Mr. Bardwell afraid these future children might never get a chance to grow up and be whatever they want — like President of the United States? Oh wait — never mind!

Peggy Barnholt, Denver

This letter was published in the Oct. 20 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

It is important that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) rights activists not only join forces with LGBT-positive faith groups, but that they also assuage the fears of anti-gay marriage faith groups. Because marriage straddles religious and secular spheres, the concept of government-sanctioned gay marriage has stirred fears in religious groups that their belief systems will not be respected.

While I may not agree with religious anti-gay rhetoric, I am a strong believer in the First Amendment. Same-sex marriage is a secular, legal affair that need only be recognized by the government. It will not infringe on any church’s right to deny religious marital rites or recognition to same-sex couples, any more than civil marriages between interfaith couples must be performed or recognized by religious groups that ban such unions.

Laws must be created that protect the civil rights of everyone, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, while reaffirming the rights of religious groups to practice and believe as they see fit.

Raishel Wasserman, Englewood

This letter was published in the Oct. 17 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.